diff --git a/hw/core/qdev.c b/hw/core/qdev.c
index 43d863b0c5..c68d0f7c51 100644
--- a/hw/core/qdev.c
+++ b/hw/core/qdev.c
@@ -879,6 +879,14 @@ Object *qdev_get_machine(void)
     return dev;
 }
 
+char *qdev_get_human_name(DeviceState *dev)
+{
+    g_assert(dev != NULL);
+
+    return dev->id ?
+           g_strdup(dev->id) : object_get_canonical_path(OBJECT(dev));
+}
+
 static MachineInitPhase machine_phase;
 
 bool phase_check(MachineInitPhase phase)
diff --git a/include/hw/qdev-core.h b/include/hw/qdev-core.h
index 151d968238..66338f479f 100644
--- a/include/hw/qdev-core.h
+++ b/include/hw/qdev-core.h
@@ -993,6 +993,20 @@ const char *qdev_fw_name(DeviceState *dev);
 void qdev_assert_realized_properly(void);
 Object *qdev_get_machine(void);
 
+/**
+ * qdev_get_human_name() - Return a human-readable name for a device
+ * @dev: The device. Must be a valid and non-NULL pointer.
+ *
+ * .. note::
+ *    This function is intended for user friendly error messages.
+ *
+ * Returns: A newly allocated string containing the device id if not null,
+ * else the object canonical path.
+ *
+ * Use g_free() to free it.
+ */
+char *qdev_get_human_name(DeviceState *dev);
+
 /* FIXME: make this a link<> */
 bool qdev_set_parent_bus(DeviceState *dev, BusState *bus, Error **errp);